Distributing device



H BASLER DISTRIBUTING DEVICE June 20, 1944.

Filed May 28, 1940 v 6 Ti 21 f I 9- 2 Sheets-Sheet l lnvenfor Hermann EcuLcr I i. a. 0M.

Ag'eut' June 20, 1944.

H. BASLER DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Filed May 28, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lhvenfor I Her mamx Baler i. 0. ROW.

7 Agent tits srritl l lff' Patented June 20, 1944 OFFICE DISTRIBUTING DEVICE Hermann Basler, Berlin-Dahlem, Germany; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application May 28, 1940, Serial No. 337,665 In Germany October 3, 1939 '5 Claims.

The present invention relates to a distributing device comprising a supply chamber and a distributor or flow box having a broad discharge opening. More particularly the invention is concerned with devices of this kind adapted to be used in connection with plants operating with variable supply pressure for equalizing the supply and spreading of pulpy material, particularly fibrous material, upon sieves, screens or the like, whereupon the spread out material is pressed for instance in the form of plates.

The hitherto known distributing devices have proved rather unsuitable for effecting a uniform discharge, particularly in connection with plants operating with variable supply pressure. The object of the invention is to avoid the drawbacks of the known devices and to provide a distributing device ensuring a uniform discharge of the material supplied.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is shown by way of example.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a known distributing device,

Figs. 2 and 3 are diagrammatic sectional detail views of a distributing device according to the invention,

Fig. 4 is a cross section through a distributing device provided with three juxtapositioned channels, and

Fig. 5 is a view partially in section and on a reduced scale of a device using the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 4.

As shown in Fig. 1, a tube l' is provided with a slot 2' and connected to a pipe 3' which may be closed by a slide 4 and in turn is connected to an open container or tank 5' arranged above tube I. In practice this container is arranged about two meters above the tube I. Consequently the entire mass of the fibrous material 6' present in the container 5' exerts a corresponding pressure onto the material flowing through slot 2. The speed of flow of the fibrous material depends upon the pressure thereof and upon the cross section of pipe 3.

Now, if the slide 4' is slightly opened only the tube l is first of all filled practically uniformly up to the height of the discharge slot 2'. If more material is supplied, the channel slowly begins to overflow, particularly if water is used as the conveying material.

If, however, the slide 4 is completely opened, then in accordance with the known physical laws the liquid is mainly discharged about the zone 8',

charge relatively small quantities of liquid only.

The above explained conditions are extremely disadvantageous for conveying fibrous masses and the like, because a uniform spreading of the material over a large area cannot be obtained. With the prior supply devices, nearly always variable pressures occur in the supply pipe, particularly when the supply chamber is periodically filled with about 2 m. of fibrous pulp at a time. If then the slide 4' is opened, the pressure and the discharge velocity of the fibrous material naturally rise to a maximum. However, the less material remains in the container tank 5' the smaller will be the pressure causing large Pressure variations. The main object of the present invention is to equalize these pressure variations.

According to the present invention the distributing device which for instance may be connected to the supply chamber by way of a closable connecting pipe is formed as a practically completely closed tube-like body. The tube-like body is provided with walls forming chambers extending in the longitudinal direction which reduce the spaces through which the material flows under pressure from one chamber to the other and round the walls.

In particular, practical tests made with my improved distributing device have shown that, if a single ballle 9' is mounted in the tube l as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, generally a rather slight improvement of the pressure and flow ratios prevailing in the tube is obtained.

According to the invention, therefore, a plurality of channels or tubes are preferably arranged side by side and, moreover, battles are provided in the direction of flow. The operation of such a device according to the invention is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3.

When the slide 4 is opened, the space I0 is completely filled because the cross section of the discharge slot I l between chamber I and chamber II is smaller than the cross section of the pipe which connects the supply container to chamer I.

In the chamber I, therefore, an over-pressure is produced which is uniformly distributed over the entire length of this chamber. At first the pressure prevailing at the connecting point of the pipe 3' is larger than that prevailing at the end of the tube or pipe opposite supply pipe 3'. Now, the material in the chamber I is subjected to over-pressure and flows irregularly into the chamber II. The material in chamber II has a lower pressure. By the overflow of the whereas the remaining portions of the slot 2' dismaterial into chamber III and finally by the action of the discharge slot provided in the tube or pipe the desired equalization of the pressure and of the flow of the material is obtained.

Experiments with my improved device also have shown that, not only an overflow round the bafiies from one chamber to the other occurs, but that all the chambers are practically completely filled with material for instance fibrous mass. This is due to the fact that the fibrous mass is not discharged as quickly as it is admitted through the corresponding larger cross section of the inlet or supply pipe.

If now no hydrostatic pressure would exist, i. e. if the material to be supplied would be fed without pressure, then the level of the fibrous pulp never would reach the upper closure wall of the channel and, therefore, a closure of the channel would not be at all necessary.

The successively smaller cross sections acting as chokes may be formed in a different manner according to the invention. In a special simple construction successively smaller cross sections are formed by arranging a nozzle or lip at the overflow edge of the channel or channels. The nozzle or lip extends along the entire edge and has its discharge opening directed obliquely downwardly towards the surface to be covered with the material.

A preferred modification used in connection with the last mentioned construction substantially consists in forming successively smaller cross sections by plates extending into the channels and along the same. Hereby the arrangement of the plates preferably is such that the distance between the plates and the walls facing the overflow is smaller than the distance between the plates and the opposite walls of the channels. Thus two channels are formed one of which, i. e. that one lying near the supply side, is wider than the other which is arranged near the discharge side. Moreover, the arrangement of the plate or plates extending into the channel preferably is such that the distance of the lower edge of the plate from the bottom of the channel advantageously is not smaller than the smaller lateral distance between the plate and the nearer wall.

A particularly uniform discharge of the fibrous mass or the like is obtained in accordance with the invention by providing a plurality of channels with adjacent plates forming a weir. Only the channel for finally discharging the mass is provided with a discharge nozzle or lip, whereas successively smaller cross sections are provided in each channel and the smaller discharge cross section of the one channel merges into the broader supply cross section of the adjoining channel.

Preferably a plate or the like is pivotally mounted on an axis extending longitudinally to the axis of the channel. The plate is connected to the lower inclined wall of the discharge nozzle in such a manner that in its downwardly directed position the plate practically forms a prolongation of the lower wall of the nozzle or lip and in its nearly vertically upwardly directed position it forms a closure for the discharge opening of the nozzle or lip. The pivotally arranged plate may be a telescope so that according to requirements, for instance corresponding to the desired discharge directions of the material, the

" plate may be extended or pushed together, whereby the position of the discharge edge is correspondingly changed.

Preferably a closure plate is arranged above the channels and the side walls of the channels to cover the channels. The closure plate may simultaneously serve as guide plate for the material. The plates forming the weirs and extending into the channels advantageously are fixed to the closure plate, for instance by welding.

The channels preferably have the form of a semi-cylindrical trough provided with extended side walls, projecting from the free edges. Between the side walls the above described weir forming plates are inserted.

The channel first receiving the mass preferably is provided with fittings which are connected to the pipe system supplying the fibrous mass to the channels.

If the device according to the invention is to be used for uniformly spreading fibrous masses or the like upon die surfaces or the like for subsequently pressing the material into plates, the arrangement is such that at each side of the surface to be covered a group of channels is provided having about the construction described above, the groups preferably being symmetrically formed with regard to each other.

I have found that it is advisable to arrange the groups of channels at such a distance from each other and at such a height above the surface to be covered with the material that the jets or rows of jets of the fibrous masses leaving the discharge nozzles or the discharge edges may cross each other. Preferably care should be taken that the jets or rows of jets cross or intersect each other substantially in a straight line. This for instance makes it possible that the jets meeting each other are spread by the impact, the individual jets flowing in the form of an are from the crossing zone downwardly towards the surface to be covered. This avoids forming undesired beads or folds upon the surface to be covered. The mass, moreover, is practically completely uniformly spread over the entire surface.

In the construction shown by way of example in Fig. 4 the fitting l is provided with a flange 2 by means of which the fitting I may be connected to the supply pipe for the material to be distributed by the device. The connection is effected by means of screw bolts, not shown, which are passed through holes 3 provided in the flange 2. The fitting i is provided with a member 4 connected to the inlet pipe 5 of the distributing device. At 6 the connecting member 4 of the fitting i and the pipe 5 are connected together, for instance by welding. The walls I and 8 of the pipe 5 are connected to the distributing device and the wall I is inclined downwardly.

The lower end of the wall I of the pipe 5 is provided at 9 with a fiange II) which is connected thereto by a welding seam H. The flange I0 is sealed to the flange H by way of a packing IS. The flange i2 is attached on the channel it. The channel i4 is connected by a weld i5 to a channel l6 which, in turn, is connected by a weld I! to the channel 18. The three channels I4, I15 and I8 are formed semi-cylindrically and arranged side by side in a longitudinal direction. The upwardly directed extended wall IQ of the channel I! simultaneously forms a wall of the channel l6. Correspondingly the plate 20 forms a wall for the channel I6 as well as for the channel IS. The walls l9 and 20 practically extend vertically upwardly and longitudinally to the axis of the channels. The channel I 8 is provided with 8, Wall 2| which forms the outer closure wall and is arranged near the side facing the discharge opening for the material. Into the channels l4, l6 and I8 extend the plates 22, 23 and 24 respectively which are arranged in the spaces of these channels in the longitudinal direction thereof in such a manner that their distance from the wall near the overflow is shorter than the distance from the wall in the neighborhood of the supply. The plates 22, 23 and 24 extend into the channels l4, l6 and I8 respectively to such a depth that the lower edges of the plates are spaced from the bottom of the channel a distance which approximately corresponds to the radius of the cylindrical portion of the channel. The upper edges of the plates 22, 23 and 24 are connected for instance by welds 26, 21, respectively, to a plate 25 covering at least a portion of the channels.

The cover plate 25 is bent downwardly at 28. The portion 29 which obliquely extends towards the surface to be covered with the material forms together with a wall 3|, arranged opposite to and spaced from the wall 29, a discharge nozzle or lip extending in the longitudinal direction of the channel. The front edge of the wall 29 is designated 33. The front edge 32 of the lower wall 3| of the nozzle projects with respect to wall portion 33 for a definite length. At the lower side of this projection a flange 34 is provided hav ng a pivot pin 36 to which plate 35 is pivoted. Plate 35 is bent at the pivot pin 36 in such a manner that, when turned upwardly, the inner surface of the plate 35 abuts against the front edge 32 of the lower wall 3| of the nozzle. The free end of the plate 35 is provided with a bent off portion 31 which in the downwardly turned position thereof practically extends vertically downwardly so that the material flowing over the upper surface of the plate 35 is not prevented from running off the plate. Plate 24 is connected by a weld 38 to the upper inclined wall 29 of the nozzle, said plate extending into the channel l8 and forming a weir.

In the lower cylindrical portion of the channels 4, l6, l8 outlet pipes 38, 39, 48 respectively are provided.

The operation of the above described device according to Fig. 4 is as follows:

From the distributing pipe system fibrous material which for instance is to be pressed to plates is introduced into the space formed by the walls 1 and 22 by way of the fitting I. From this space the mass reaches by way of the lower cylindrical portion of the channel l4 the passage formed by the walls 22 and I9 which acts as choking or accumulating passage.

If the channel closed at the front sides is filled with fibrous mass to such a height that the level of the mass reaches the upper edge of the wall l9, then the material begins to flow over this edge, whereby the flowing movement through the choking or accumulating passage between the walls 22 and I9 is equalized in accordance with the invention. The mass then passes through the opening between the upper edge of the wall l9 and the lower surface of the cover plate 25 facing the wall l9 into the broader portion of the passage in channel which is limited by the wall |9 and the plate 23. The above described operation is repeated at this point. The fibrous mass rises in the channel l6 at both sides of the plate 23 until the level of this mass reaches the upper edge of the wall 29. Then the mass begins to flow over, traverses the passage formed by the upper edge of the plate 29 and the lower face of the cover plate 25 and flows downwardly into the broader reaches the edge 3| a of the wall 2 I.

portion of the passage in the channel I8 formed by the wall 20 and the weir plate 24. The fibrous mass again rises in the channel until its level During the flow of the mass into the passage of the channel l8 formed by the walls 28 and 24 the flowing movement of the mass is equalized by the smaller passage between the walls 23 and 28. The flowing movement of the mass also is equalized during its flow through the smaller passage between the walls 24 and 2|. If the mass reaches the edge 3|a, flowing oft begins by way of the nozzle or lip which is formed by the upper wall 29 and the lower wall 3|. The mass flows over the upper surface of the lower wall 3| of the nozzle or lip downwardly and, if the guide plate 35 is turned downwardly over the upper surface thereof, obliquely downwardly until the bent off portion 31 is reached. From the portion 31 the mass, depending on the flowing velocity, the pressure, etc., is more or less far thrown out into the free space present laterally of and below the running off edge of the plate 35 and for instance drops upon a molding plate, a screen or the like which serves for the further treatment of the mass to obtain molded bodies or the like.

In the construction of Fig. 5 a frame for a hydraulic press adapted to manufacture fibrous press plates is shown. The upper ends of lateral supporting members 4| are connected by cross members 42. The lower ends of the supporting members 4| rest upon or in a base plate 43 which also carries the molding box for the fibrous mass which is to be pressed.

The holder for the press ram 45 is designated 44, whereas the counterbearing forming the die is designated 46. The counter bearing 46 is arranged in a box-like frame 41 which is open at the top. The walls of frame 41 form a container or tank into which flows the material to be pressed. The upper edge of the box 41 is reinforced for instance by angle irons 48 and the bottom of box 41 rests upon a support consisting of channel irons 49 which in turn rest upon the base plate 43.

The material to be pressed, for instance flbrous material, is supplied by way of the tubes 50, 5| which are arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the box 41 receiving the material to be pressed. The pipes 50 and 5| are connected by flanges 2 and 53 respectively to the inlet pipes of the distributing devices 54, 55 respectively according to the invention. The distributing device 54 is, as shown in the construction according to Fig. 4, provided with three channels l4. |6, |8 closely arranged side by side. The corresponding channels of the distributing device 55 are designated with 59, 68, 6| respectively.

The distributing devices 54 and 55 are provided with a nozzle or lip 3| and 63 respectively.

From the nozzles or lips 3| and 63 the material to be pressed, for instance a fibrous mass, is discharged in a jet which is influenced by the pressure prevailing in the pipe system 50 and 5|. The two jets are designated 64 and 65 respectively and cross each other about in a straight line 66 which practically is situated in the middle above the surface to be covered with the material. By the rebound of the jets of the material, particles 61 and 68 are thrown off which, so to say in the form of a spray reach, by way of curved paths, the upper surface 46 of the counter-bearing upon which they form uniform layers 69, 10 adapted to be pressed.

The operation of the device according to Fig. 5 is as follows:

Fibrous material is supplied by the pipe system 50, 5| and passes through the distributing devices 54, 55 in which it is subjected to the actions explained above in detail with reference to Fig. 4. The masses are discharged by the nozzles or lips 3|, 63 in the form of jets the size and shape of which may be predetermined. The fibrous material then impinges on the surface of the thrust counter-bearing 46 to be covered with the material. After a uniform layer of a suitable thickness has been formed, further supply of fibrous mass is interrupted, and the press ram 45 is moved downwardly to compress the mass present in the box 41 and resting upon the counter-bearing 46. This compression, directly following the interruption of the supply of the mass, is possible due to the construction of the distributing device according to the invention, because the layers formed by these distributing devices practically are absolutely uniform and homogeneous. The molded bodies which may be produced by the presses have proved to be of excellent, dense, solid and uniform quality.

What I claim is:

1. A distributing device for uniformly distributing fibre pulp supplied at varying hydrostatic pressure, comprising a supply tank for supplying the pulp to be distributed, a closed distributing member arranged below said tank and having a longitudinally extending discharge opening, a pipe secured to said distributing member for connecting said supply tank therewith, means for shutting off said pipe, a plurality of baffles arranged substantially vertically in said distributing member to form' alternately wide passages with narrow passages therebetween, whereby the pulp is freely discharged as a laterally extended jet through said discharge opening with a substantially constant rate of flow.

2. A distributing device for uniformly distributing fibre pulp comprising a supply tank, a closed distributing member arranged below said tank and having a longitudinally extending discharge opening, a pipe for connecting said distributing member with said supply tank, means for shutting off said pipe, a plurality of bailles arranged substantially vertically in said distributing members and extending longitudinally thereacross to form alternately wide passages and narrow passages, said baffles being alternately secured to the top wall and the bottom wall of said distributing member, said discharge opening extending obliquely downwards towards the surface to be covered by the fibre pulp.

3. A distributing device for uniformly distributing fibre pulp comprising a supply tank for supplying the pulp, a closed distributing member arranged below said tank and having a longitudinally extending discharge opening, a pipe for connecting said distributing member with said supply tank, means for shutting oiT said pipe, said distributing member having a plurality of semi-circular bottom portions connected together and side walls extending substantially vertically upwards from the points where said bottom portions are connected, a plurality of baffles extending substantially vertically downwards from the top wall of said distributing member to form alternately wide and narrow passages between said side walls for substantially equalizing laterally the rate of flow of the fibre pulp.

4. A distributing device for uniformly distributing fibr pulp supplied at varying hydrostatic pressure comprising a supply tank for supplying the pulp, a closed distributing member arranged below said tank and having a longitudinally extending discharge opening, a pipe for connecting said distributing member with said supply tank, means for shutting ofi said pipe, a plurality of bafiies arranged substantially vertically in said distributing member to form alternately wide passages and narrow passages for substantially equalizing the flow of the fibre pulp therethrough regardless of the hydrostatic pressure, said baffles being alternately secured to the top Wall and the bottom wall of said distributing member, said discharge opening extending obliquely downwards toward the surface to be covered by the fibre pulp, a plate mounted on the lower wall of said discharge opening to swing about an axis extending parallel to said discharge opening, said plate forming in its downwardly turned position a continuation of the lower wall of said discharge opening and forming in its upwardly turned position a closure for said discharge opening.

5. A distributing device for uniformly distributing fibre pulp upon a horizontal receiving surface comprising a supply container for supplying the pulp, a plurality of closed distributing members above opposite sides of said surface and having each a longitudinally extending discharge opening, pipes for connecting said supply container with said distributing members, said container being arranged above said distributing members, means for shutting off said pipes, a plurality of baflles arranged substantially vertically in each of said distributing members and spaced to form alternately wide passages and narrow passages therebetween, and means for directing the fiat streams of pulp from the opposite discharge openings to a point of impingement centrallv above the said receiving surface.

HERMANN BASLER. 

